“Dengang Svaner Regerede Verd”: Brian Kindig Hanson on the Inspiration Behind His Prize-Winning Composition
- WOMCO
- Oct 6
- 3 min read
Brian Kindig Hanson, composer from the United States, received the Absolute First Prize at the 14th edition of the Bach International Music Competition UK (2025 Season 3) for his composition Dengang Svaner Regerede Verd. The competition ran from 26 May to 26 August 2025, with results announced on 18 September.
Could you please introduce your award-winning composition Dengang Svaner Regerede Verd? When and under what circumstances was it composed? Could you share the inspiration behind the composition and the message you hope to convey through it?
Brian Kindig Hanson:
"Thank you first of all for the honor of being selected Absolute First Place in Original Composition for the Bach International Music Composition UK!
The inspiration for the song really came from my family. When my children were young, we would make up funny little songs and sing them to each other. The three main motifs were basically reworked versions of those songs. I wrote Dengang Svaner Regerede Verd as a tribute to these wonderful memories. In fact, I dedicated the work to my oldest daughter, as she was responsible for some of the themes."
What was your creative process like while composing Dengang Svaner Regerede Verd? How did you approach the structure and dynamics of the piece?
Brian Kindig Hanson:
"My composition style is to start with a basic idea and develop it as I go. I don’t always know where it will take me, but I like the flow of ideas as I sit down to do the work. I’m always surprised at the outcome."
Could you talk to us about yourself, your journey in music, and your future goals? Could you also share your perspective on what defines a great composer in today’s digital age, and what you consider to be the most significant artistic or professional challenges facing composer today and in the coming years?
Brian Kindig Hanson:
"I have been a musician since I was eight years old. I started piano lessons then, and have kept going musically ever since. I have been very fortunate in that most of my professional life has been involved in music in one way or another. Touring for years as an entertainer, I have always enjoyed the creative process, but because of the rigors of travel, my composing was somewhat on the back burner. Since I have recently dialed back my road travels, I have had the time to start back to the compositional process. I love it!
My future goals are to ramp up my work into arenas like sync licensing, film and television scoring. I am thrilled to continue contributing to the classical world in original compositions for orchestras, and looking forward to many commissions and scoring opportunities.
I feel the world of composing is one of the greatest opportunities in the world today. I embrace the technologies available that make the process so much more accessible. Many these tools are available for free (scoring programs like MuseScore). It really levels the playing field. I also feel a great composer creates something that is timeless. Music that doesn’t date itself."
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and anyone you'd like to thank?
Brian Kindig Hanson:
"I would like to thank my family for always believing in me. I would also like to thank my mentors like Dr. Robert Copeland (one of my college professors) who saw in me what I didn’t always see."
Biography
I grew up in a small town in Iowa. Started taking piano lessons at the age of eight. I have always enjoyed performing and was given many opportunities even at a young age. I appreciate all the people that believed in me. It was a very supportive environment.
I started improvising at the keyboard playing for silent movies (back when Super 8 was a thing)!
After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music, I started ramping up my keyboard abilities performing all over the USA.
In the last few years I have concentrated more on local performing in the Nashville, TN area and occasionally traveling around the country with an ensemble performing a show with Croatian pop star Tajci Cameron.
With cutting back on my travels, I now enter the part of my life where I can now seriously devote my time to composition. I feel I am entering the best time of my life!
